Match Reports 2003/04

Since 2003/04 the club has produced a weekly newsletter, during the season, containing match reports from each of the games played that weekend.

Wed 17-Mar-04

Issue 21

All the action from last weekend below...

match reports by: Justin Collins, Aidan Brock, James Terrett, Will Morgan, Mark Jones, Ian Cooper, Kath Sowter, Joanna Reynolds, Marie Smith, Kathryn Farthing, Jo Hillyer and Mark Jones again.

Men's 1s vs. Wayfarers: won 5-3

This was a potential banana skin of a match against a side already relegated having only won one game this season. The fact that it wasn't, and that we were always easily in control, owed nothing to the efforts of our skipper and keeper, Justin, who single handedly managed to keep Wayfarers in the game with a couple of howlers of comic book proportions. Meanwhile everyone else played well, Andy scored 2, with other efforts from Olly, Bill and Gaz.

Scorers: Andy Balchin 2, Gareth Weir, Bill Pellett, Oliver Morgan

Next match: Saturday 13 March vs. Wayfarers - 10.30 away

Men's 2s vs. Wimbledon: lost 0-3

Oh, how the mighty fall.....With 4 players absent, 1 injured and 3 walking wounded this was a game too far for the battle weary troops. Yours truly, freed from the shackles of the goalkeeping duties for the first time this season, took up his customary position at defensive centre half, ready to exert a calming influence on the game. In theory, a brilliant plan, but a complete lack of fitness off the ball and touch on it soon showed and after trying to hold on for two conceded goals too long I saw sense and took myself out of the firing line. No point in embarrassing myself any further in front of the assembled Women's 2's (who were playing after us) especially with plenty of time to do that at the club dinner coming up. Overall the defence played well, expertly marshaled as ever by the unflappable Ferg and it was great to see Kit, back from Durham for the weekend, in such sparkling form between the sticks. The problem was that our midfield had never played together and against a well drilled side like Wimbledon, who are deservedly third in the league, it was always going to be an uphill battle. That said, the fighting spirit was three and had our fitness and injury count been better we could have caused more problems and given them a real run for their money. Big thanks to Richard Taylor and Bill Pellett for doubling up and Ferrett and Chris Coleman for umpiring.

Team: Kit Bennett (GK) + Ed , Ferg, Wes , Aido , Mark Williams, Richard Taylor, Potty, Pully, Nick Harris, Nick Jacob, Lee Snowden, Bill Pellett.

Umpires: Ferrett, Chris Coleman

Men's 3s vs. Teddington: won 5-0

This rearranged fixture was a triumph of THD's eclectic organisation. I was having trouble getting XI players out, but was helped out brilliantly by the 2's 4's and junior sections of the club and their respective captains. Teddington do not have a Mark Jones, Simon Riley or Nick Chalk to get them a team together, and duly turned up with 9 players. After 10 minutes, Julian cut a ball into a Teddington player's hand so the player and a friend went off to hospital. Teddington, now down to 7 players feared the worst and duly conceded, so we had a more even friendly and we won that too. It was great to have two juniors, Jack Davidson and Simon Glasson, who were very keen and should feature prominently for the club in years to come. There was also some excellent keeping from Kit, while Lee Snowden lost a couple of pints of blood by throwing himself on the floor at regular intervals. Unfortunately it being Sunday many of the players had to nip off rather than go back to the club and I now have a fridge full of pies. I'm expecting many takers for my pie-party, especially from the 4Bs!

Team: Kit Bennett, Guy Hodgson, Graeme Fotheringham, Julian Taylor, James Terrett, Jack Davidson, Simon Glasson, Lee Snowden, Duncan McCulloch, Nick Jacob, Felix Nurse.

Umpire: Marilyn Walker

Next match: Saturday 13th March vs. Wayfarers - 10.30 @ DC

Men's 4As vs. Wimbledon: lost 2-6

Amazingly we were beating this lot for 20 minutes with a makeshift side that included to halves trying to defend against one of the best sides in this division. A well worked move and threatening run into the D by Ed resulted in a short corner that Bruce worked well and eventually it fell to Norm who slotted it home with the aid of a Wimbledon foot. The proportion of the Wimbledon hockey players reminded me of sleeping giants and it obviously took them longer than our diet version to get moving which gave the distinct impression that we could really take the game to them. However, the giant awoke in their centre forward who possessed an elusive ability to ghost past the rather out of position centre back (me!) on two occasions taking his chance well both times against the charging Gavin. All the same, we felt confident we could come back at them in the 2nd half but Wimbledon fully awoke from their slumber having clearly been stung by our lower league position insolence and caught us napping twice more to put the game beyond us. We mustered another goal from a wondrous reverse stick flick into the top corner by Bruce - a nice way to sign off mate - and then they taught us another lesson in how to fool the oppo into thinking you're a big lug when really you're very skilful. Clearly this team is made out of 1s rejects who only get off the sofa for a jog on the astro every Saturday!! Lastly, a big thank you to Hugo, Gavin, Adam and Duncan for weathering the storm and helping us out.

Team: Gavin Lawson (GK), Tim Parker, Paul Kirkland, Will Morgan, Barny Day, Duncan McCulloch, Hugo Burton, Grant Spencer, Bruce Haines, Norm Doyle, Ed Standring, Adam (Norm's mate).

Umpire: Richard Mead

Scorers: Norm & Bruce

Next Match: Saturday 13 March vs. Wayfarers - 15.00 @ CPB

Tornados (Men's 4Bs) vs. Maidenhead: drew 2-2

The Tornados travelled up to Maidenhead low on confidence, but having gone down two goals during a lacklustre first half, the team set about the opposition during the second. Guts & determination coupled with a glimmer of self-belief helped us put Maidenhead under heavy assault. MJ hit the post and Loz hit the crossbar before we got a goal back through Paul Burrows. Then shortly after the equaliser came, courtesy of Si Riley. With a few more minutes to play it looked like daylight robbery was on the cards, but it was too little too late and the game ended in a draw.

Team: Lee Tearle(GK), Mark Jones, Stuart Craig, Tom Alexander, Nick Thomson, JT, Loz Mockery, Dougal Davis, Paul Burrows, Simon Wilshire & Simon Riley.

Umpire: Toby Wheadon

Scorers: Paul Burrows & Simon Riley

Men's 5s vs. Reading (Saturday 6th March): lost 1-2

All the brass monkeys had wisely stayed indoors on what can only be described as 'a cold day'. "Everybody was fantastic, especially the defence, and you made Reading look crap". I don't make it up, I just write it...original text care of one of our three supporters. All great to hear, but unfortunately we lost again. The thought of Reidy pulling a rabbit from his trousers clearly inspired us to greater things. The first half was so one sided on our part that I can't even remember their goal going in. As we were 1-0 down at half time, I had to assume one must have done. Undeterred, Graham sawed their defence in half at the start of the second half with a piece of magic and Ian levelled the contest. But you know your luck's out when the oppo bring on 'a fairly large chap' called Sumo to rescue three points in a six pointer four minutes from the end. And that just about sums up our season. Two games left and we have a mathematical chance of beating the drop - if we win both by a collective margin of about thirty goals, against the sides first and second in the league (combined first half of the season scores 1-9), and Reading blow their three games in hand. But hey, if we show the same passion as we did on Saturday, in the words of The (brass) Monkies, "I'm a believer". Next week we take a barrel over Niagara Falls and see if we stay up.

Team: Paul Reid, Bill Dowie, Rob Thomas, Stuart Craig, Richard Batty, Graham Evans, Matt Ruane, Ian Cooper, Rupert Grass, Mark Smith, Geoff Pritchard.

Umpire thanks to: Si "I'll never be last to the pitch again" Wilshire

Scorer: Ian Cooper

Men's 5s vs. Wimbledon: lost 1-6

Playing the top of the league side. Little to tell the two sides apart from in the goals scored stakes. Their goals for c. 60+, our goals against c. 60+. Half-time 0-0. We were awesome.

Team: Paul Reid, Thom Ruane, Stuart Craig, Bill Dowie, Graeme Evans, Rich Batty, Tim Musgrave, Ian Cooper, Matt Ruane, Mark Smith, Si Riley, Si Wilshire, Tom Alexander.

Umpires: Si Riley and Si Wilshire

Scorer: Tom Alexander

Women's 1s vs. Southampton: lost 0-1

How frustrating. We hosted the form team in the League, near certainties for promotion, and outplayed them for most of the game. We started positively, in contrast to recent games, and were the better side in the first half. Ali had a superb game, marshalling their most influential player, and everyone worked to ensure Southampton had few outlets. Going forward we looked good, but as we have learnt repeatedly this season, we must score when we have periods of dominance - we didn't. Southampton put us under more pressure in the second half, but we still played well. There were a few hairy moments in our D - Alex catching the ball on the line (?!) and Pipes having her usual blinder. Charley went so close, just skimming the far post, but that goal was elusive. Their relatively late one was controversial with one of their forwards deflecting a high and wide corner strike down from above shoulder height, but the umpire chose not to apply the letter of the law and let it stand. So yet another defeat leaves us perilously close to relegation with one team below us and four teams including us just one point above them. With 4 games to go, we have to get 3 points this weekend. We can - and must - take positives away from this game. We have proved to ourselves that we can play well and we should have the confidence that will see us through yet another relegation battle. It's good to have something to play for at this stage in the season ... isn't it?

Team: Jo Malkin, Emma Ward, Kath Sowter, Hilary Collins, Alex Crawford, Rachel Lander, Ali Rendu, Charley Williams, Martha Harvey-Jones, Dani Every, Bettina Wolff, Amy Gardener, EJ Barry

Next match: Saturday 13 March vs. Epsom - 11.30 away

Women's 2s vs. Richmond: lost 0-1

report to come....

Women's 3s vs. Richmond: won 1-0

Still smiling. What a great result. Like last week, the team withstood a 20 minute onslaught at the start. The score at half time was 0-0 which reflected the balance of play but interestingly the Richmond forwards told Charlotte that their keeper was rubbish so the half time team talk was shoot! But none of us could have imagined the goal that followed. The ball was played out of defence, through Julie in midfield who played a fine pass to Frances lurking at the right corner flag. Frances then played a pass that she alone in the club could make, hard, very fast and parallel with the back line to Ruth, quietly avoiding on the goal line who put it in. Ruth meanwhile had kept very quiet so none of the Richmond defence knew she was there! the whole team then worked incredibly hard to make sure that Richmond didn't score. Jenni put in some excellent saves, Anna / Claire as sweeper were great and the rest of us ran our socks off. Fantastic. everybody played so well, I could and should mention each player. we'll probably still go down but great to win.

Team: Jennie Wilkins, Anna Barrett, Claire Paterson, Lou Curry, Charlotte Bowen-Rayner, Joanna Reynolds, Lizzie Gillett, Frances Bowen-Rayner, Julie O'Hara, Ruth Pratt, Jules Ingham, Roz Hornsby.

Umpire: Steve

Women's 4s vs. Addiscombe: lost 1-2

Not a bad result at all as last time they beat us 9-2 and this time we didn't even have 11 players though we thought we were going to. Despite that yet again we were great - this arrogance thing is really paying off!! They scored first and then with some hard work and excellent marking we were given a shortie which Esther buried in true backboard splintering style. We had plenty of other chances and put them under enough pressure that they started to get flustered and rely on the long ball which frankly they weren't fit or fast enough to get to before us. We went to the ball, we encouraged each other and although there was one less of us we managed to more or less mark them out of the game! We were under pressure too but Mel R and her super stick, Anna and her super tackles, Ruth and her general super-ness and Mel B and her super pads kept them out. On the break was where we were looking most dangerous and Emma was unlucky not to bag one in a one on one with their keeper. Their second goal was nothing to write home about, and it spurred us on to try harder for that equalizer - Isabelle won every ball she went for, Emily became possessed by some sort of demon and scared us all including the oppo and Marie even went for a full length diving reverse stick shot that just squeezed outside the post. Joint man of the match went to Emma for her marking of the biggest scariest member of their team and Emily because she threatened to rain fire and brimstone on all of us if we didn't vote for her (and her eyes glowed red and everything). Anyway a good game was had by all and I think it is safe to say that we all really enjoyed it. Next week we are going to win away at Richmond with hopefully a full team!

Team: Mel Bastin, Mel Rees, Ruth Pratt, Anna Stuttard, Esther Roberts, Emily Halliday, Emma Billsden, Isabel Drewe, Marie Smith, Andrea Vicari.

Scorer: Esther Roberts

Women's 5s vs. Oxted: lost 0-4

The team worked hard to defend in the first half, keeping the score to 0-0 at half time. In the second half it deteriorated! We then watched as they returned home triumphant unable to stay for teas as they had mocks to revise for - it was a day when youth overcame experience! Thanks to Sarah for goalkeeping and Richard for umpiring.

Team: Sarah Dyke, Jean Sutton, Nicole Yost, Rosie Le Voir, Katherine Dixon, Kathryn Farthing, Ash McDonald, Sarah Smith, Steph Kee, Rachael Fallows, Andrea Beattie.

Umpire: Richard

Women's 6 vs. Wayfarers: lost 1-3

Wayfarers are always tough adversaries, and we were fortunate to be able to field our strongest team this week, with maximum subs (where were they all 2 weeks ago!?). The game got off to a good start for us, with good ball pace and movement and great communication. Despite some strong runs by our forwards, we were unable to break through Wayfarers back line, but at the same time they were unable to make a mark on our defences, so were pleased to reach half-time with no goals for either side. The second half, unfortunately, went down-hill after an easy goal from Wayfarers and a slight altercation between the umpires. After a short pause in the game we never properly regained our composure, and Wayfarers were able to put away another 2. We drew some consolation from a great goal by Vicky 5 minutes before full time, which she nonchalantly smacked home from a cross by Hazel (at least I think it was Hazel, apologies if I'm stealing somebody's thunder).

Team: Gigi Ho, Jo Hillyer, Hazel Dawson, Fee Mullender, Hilary Fielding, Claudine Ratnayake, Gemma Cloche, Claire Shirley, Vicky Wright, Emma Gilchrist, Wendy Tang, Michelle Morgan, Jocelyn Maximé, Clare Bell

Scorer: Vicky Wright

Dragons vs. Spencer: drew 2-2

A horrible day that was bitterly cold as well. The team finally arrived - not all before pushback - to take on a Spencer side with no goalie or even 11 players! Unperturbed by this, Dragons players were lent to the oppo and the game was on. The game lurched from one side to the next like two kids on a seesaw with neither quite getting the upper hand. Then a quick brace from the oppo left the Dragons contemplating only their second loss of the season... well, quite frankly that was unthinkable. Socks were pulled up, gumshields put in place and 'lucky' sticks were pulled out the kitbags and sure enough it all worked. Newbie Laura Sorensen replied with two well-taken goals and the final whistle went almost immediately. A creditable draw that means the team is still undefeated in 2004. With this kind of track record then a partnership with Man Utd. & the New York Yankees must be only days away

Team: George Sykes (GK), Mark Jones, Aidan Brock, Matt Groom, Simon Riley, Jon Kirby, Jules Ingham, Emma Gilchrist, Martina Van-Der-Leij, Ashley McDonald, Gemma Bryce & Laura Sorensen.

Umpires: Lucy Partington & Banners

Scorer(s): Laura Sorensen (2)

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